Why do christians celebrate halloween?

Question

The dictionary says Halloween is the celebration of pagan traditions, conjuring up evil spirits (devil , satan, ghost, demons, etc).
As christians, arent we suppose to stay away from these things? Why would we bring this pictures, toys, statues into our homes,have our children dress up as demons, ghoust, etc and particiate in this event?
The bible tells us to stay away from pagan worship and celebrations....?

Answer 1

The bible talks about staying away from evil in several different areas.
Whether non-christians, or christians that celebrate halloween will admit it, it is an evil holiday. No amount of sugar or free sweets will ever change that.
We have to take the stand to not have anything to do with it.
Churches having "harvest festivals" really aren't helping either. Several different pagan groups love to hear about churches doing this, seeing as how it's still a celebration of the on OCT 31st which is what they are celebrating. It also gives our kids a since that we need to give them a substitute for Halloween, which is not needed.
I agree that we as Christians should not celebrate halloween, or have substitute celebrations for it. They can cause much confusion in the hearts of our children.
My husband and I are pastors, and we also do some farming. I do put out a Thankfulness sign for the harvest, but that is to usher in the Thanksgiving holiday.

There are several things that the bible doesn't cover, but celebrating a holiday that started out through superstition and fear is something that it's clear on.

Blessings!

Answer 2

Hallowe'en is the Scottish shortening of All Hallows Even (Also Allhallow-eve, Hallowmas, Hallowtide) and it means "All Saints Eve". It is the eve before All Saints Day which is a Christian (mostly Catholic) holiday to honor all the saints who do not already have their own day dedicated to them. November 2 is All Souls Day which is a day to pray for the souls in purgatory and remember the faithful Christian dead. Folk customs that developed around All Souls Day are the source of the idea that the dead return on Halloween. There are several pagan holidays that may have influenced Halloween because all cultures have always had holidays to honor the dead, but that is unrelated to Satan. Halloween has also absorbed many pagan, folk, and secular customs, but that is no different than Christmas trees, Yule logs, mistletoe, Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny, etc. Jack Chick's version of the holiday cannot be supported by any historical evidence whatsoever! So why the idea of Halloween being Satanic? 1. In the middle ages Christian parishioners would dress as angels, saints, and devils and parade around the church in honor of the saints on All Saints Day. 2.Folk customs in Ireland and Scotland added a very strong 'spooky' element to the holiday because the Irish holiday of Samhain, and existing Irish beliefs, influenced All Saints when it came to Ireland and Scotland. The Christian church has often preached that the ideas of any other religion are Satanic, so the church added an 'evil' overtone to the pagan and folk beliefs in the supernatural. 3. During the Protestant Reformation All Saints was commonly accused of being Satanic because it was Catholic or 'papist'. Some Protestant leaders even suppressed customs honoring the saints. 4. During the middle ages Christians had a very strong fear of witches, which at the time were considered to be in league with Satan. At some point the spooky element of Halloween turned into a fear of witches and people would use Halloween as a time to perform rituals to protect against witches in the coming year. Nobody knows exactly how or when this connection got started, but it is probably related to the 'demonizing' of any belief that is not rooted in Christian belief. 5. Religious extremists began attacking Halloween around the 1980's. I honestly don't know why that got started, but the 'history' they use is not accurate at all. And since the Bible says not to let others judge you by a festival you celebrate, I don't understand why they decided to attack a holiday. (Colossians 2:16-17) Although Halloween has become separated from All Saints in practice, because the United States has turned it into an entirely secular and commercial holiday, All Saints and All Souls are still widely practiced in Europe. In fact they are federal holidays in many countries. Mexico, South America, and some Native Americans practice their own version of All Saints and All Souls. These holidays were brought to the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries by the Spanish and French missionaries (like the Jesuits). EDIT: Also, my parents' generation doesn't understand where this whole 'Satanic Halloween' thing came from, and it didn't exist when they were kids. When I was a kid it was commonplace for churches to hold Halloween parties (not harvest festivals).

Answer 3

One could ask the same question to the American traditional methodology of Christmas and Easter as well...neither of which are celebrated in a manner that is expressed in Holy Scriptures. The date that Christmas falls on is supposed to be the shortest day, and a Middle-Eastern god's celebration day. Easter was a fertility celebration. The Passover came just before Easter, and was a memorial to the Exodus from Egypt for the Israelites...It is a coincidence that happened to fit in with the Resurrection of Christ.
When the Romans conquered a Nation or People, they absorbed and adapted the religion of that area to fit it's needs. Basically to keep the people under control, the Pantheon became much larger, until Constantine's time.
If a Christian wants to honor Christ's birthday in December, try to do it without the pagan influences, such as Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. Christ's birth was most likely in April or May anyway. If a Christian wishes to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, eliminate the bunnies, chicks, and eggs...have a fellowship feast with fellow believers instead. Stop calling it Easter, because the Bible tells us that we should have no other Gods before Yahweh, and we should not even have their names come from our mouths.
Furthermore, Christians should celebrate the holidays (HOLY DAYS) that God did ordain...starting with the very first Holy Day, the 7th day of the week. That one was started by God in Genesis...within the first week of Creation. If a Christian wishes to celebrate God's Creation, then keep the 7th day of the week (Sabbath) as a holy memorial...worship and praise! Then you will know the peace that passeth understanding.

Answer 4

Colossiains 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in (respect of an holyday), or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"



1Cr 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
1Cr 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Cr 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Cr 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1Cr 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


It makes me sad to see Christians caught up in the Spirit of bondage.We are set free, not to be judged in such trivial matters.God looks into the heart and seees what motivates us.If we are celebrating halloween to worship the devil then something is wrong with our spirit, and its not halloween.We used to lock the doors and turn the lights out.Now we dress the grandchildren up as Angels, Rabbits, etc., but leave out the monsters and gobblens.For treats that we hand out gospel tracts are given, our name and phone # is added incase some might want to visit about our Lord.My God is much greater than halloween ever was and I love Him for setting me free from this bondage.




















PS>WHAT DICTIONARY DID YOU GET THIS FROM?I posted this two days ago, you don't have a dictionary that says what you say it says do you? And this is how much of this stuff gets made up.If we were to listen to all the "don't do this because its pagan" Christians wouldn't be able to do anything.
Example: The X or Cross that we have on our doors was meant to keep out evil spirits.It also helps hold the door together ; Sunday was named after the sun god.

Answer 5

I don't think my nine year old who's Friends and him are carving pumpkins and dressing up as there favorite superhero or Cinderella and walking door to door to receive treats from neighbors they and the parents know and trust are promoting any kind of evil . Parents might have a get together with friends to basically socialize and dress a little wacky, but I don't think there's many that are performing anything religious, or calling out any demons, or starting a cult to conjure up demons or anything like that. I guess the dictionaries definition of Halloween and mine are a whole lot different.

Answer 6

I agree.
My family does not do these things.
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.


2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.


Jeremiah 10:2
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

My wife decorates our home with a fall theme this time of year. She does not use any halloween items. We do have pumpkins but not jack o lanterns. There is no ghosts skeletons spiders or webs vampires etc. What she has put up, inside and out, will stay up till after Thanksgiving. It has nothing to do with the 31st day of October.

Just like Memorial Day or the 4th of July we hang our flags and have stars and stripes.

Years ago we dressed our kids as a happy meal one was burger one was fries one was a drink. We were not out trying to worship the devil but we were partaking in the festival his followers has. Holy means set apart as a service to God, halloween does not do that. That is why it is not an official "holiday". Nowadays we no longer do anything that the world does on that day. We treat it as any other day that the Lord has made.

(If this question is still open, I will try to find tomorrow (monday) a crediable web site with the history of Halloween for those who want to see it's orgins.) I have looked somewhat a few days ago but haven't had any luck. I have some really old encyclopedias that tell the history but they were printed long before the internet so they don't list a web address. Don't wait on me if you decide to end this question.


The best I found so far but not as informative. I'm still searching.
http://www.pointsoftruth.com/hallowsdark.html
http://www.exposingsatanism.org/halloween.htm


Other information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Hallowee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire


I am not saying a person will go to hell or not for these things. I am not the judge. But what I would like would be to cause people to think about the blessings of God. If anyone reads this is familar with the Kings of Israel in the Bible all who brought in idols and served strange gods were not blessed by God. The more of these strange gods the less of blessing and greater the curses. There is a blessing for folllowing God whole heartedly. Lord knows I am not perfect but I'll try to help others in my strengths and hope other saints can help me in my weaknesses. My hearts desire is to see Gods people recieve all blessings that he has in store for them.

If I find any more web sites I will post them on my profile page.

Answer 7

Christians can celebrate Halloween as a Holy Evening anytime they want.

In all things I do, I will do in the nam Name of the Lord. I am not under the law, I am under grace.

Christians are suppose to stay away from evil. But Halloween doesn't have to be celebrating evil. We can celebrate Christ our King.

My Church does. They have an alternate fun celebration for children at my Church. To find out more check their web site. http://www.riveroflifefellowship.org .

I agree we shouldn't celebrate evil. But October31 Is Gods Day first. God created it. Who cares if the devils tried to usurp Gods day.

Answer 8

A lot of the Churches are doing Fall Festivals, which have nothing to do with Halloween, however it is giving parents a safe alternative to the Secular Halloween activities. Our church is having a bouncing castle, cake walk, ring toss, putting green and other carnival like games. We will also hand out Candy.

Answer 9

People who claim Christianity and yet celebrate Halloween in the pagan way either can't see past the commercial aspect, or haven't thought about it.

Celebrating the true All Hallows, though, is a Christian remembrance of all the people who have gone before into glory.

Personally I don't care for the Halloween celebrations as they stand, whether it be the occult aspect or the commercialised gluttony of sweets. So I ignore it. And I celebrate salvation in Christ, every day.

Answer 10

Actually, many, many pagan holidays were incorporated into the church calendar by early church leaders to make the new religion more palatable to the pagans they were forcing to convert.

Therefore, Halloween, Samhain, became All Soul's, which is actually 11/01 and amazingly Jesus was born around the winter solstice, so we have Christmas, but I've always been confused about how he could be born the same day every year; as most of us are, but dies on a different day every year, Easter, which can be anywhere from March to May, and has something to do with stars or moons, IDK, but we have the pagan rebirth, which is why eggs and chickens are prevalent at Easter, although I don't think there were any around the cross or tomb. (Chocolate was added later, when it was discovered in the New World.)

Anyway, just more highlights about how the christian religion is just an amalgam of many religions that preceded it; and how extremely flexible the church fathers were early on, compared to how rigid they became once they had accrued a lot of power.